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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask about the alpha course here because hardly any traffic goes through the philosophy/religion topic?

52 replies

franklampoon · 01/09/2010 19:15

I am considering doing the Alpha course.
Anyone got views or experience?

Sorry to post here but got no replies on religious topic

OP posts:
greenbananas · 01/09/2010 23:40

Just had a ver quick look at the blog referenced by uneprune earlier. Looks interesting...

franklampoon, good luck tomorrow. hope it all goes really well... don't forget, this is not just about how well an Alpha course is run Smile Smile My personal view is that God is a whole lot bigger than Alpha courses.

Original poster
franklampoon · 02/09/2010 00:07

The blog raises all my objections.
In the past I have felt that the hardcore christians just viewed me as difficult and argumentative. I'm not.

I just want to be convinced, and if I cant be I can give the whole thing up once and for all before I hit fifty

OP posts:
Ladyanonymous · 02/09/2010 00:10

Religion is brainwashing....and is for the unthinking. Its used as a means of discipline "If you don't live like this you will go to hell". Also blackmail.

Anyone see that program about the Amish?

Fascinating and lovely kids but all been brainwashed with the Bible from an early age.

I believe there is a God - I hate organised religion - most is very corrupt.

Original poster
franklampoon · 02/09/2010 00:31

Lady, I agree, and I am well able to distinguish between organised religion and some sort of truth about God

OP posts:
londonlottie · 02/09/2010 06:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

garageflower · 02/09/2010 16:27

I took the Alpha course a few years back in support of my Christian friend who helped to run it. As a Catholic (by upbring, not practice) who thinks they do believe in a God of some description, I found it a little too evangelical.

It was less about the reasons for believing in God and more about people that had 'found God' and now didn't drink, do drugs etc.

I didn't feel like it particularly benefitted me and neither did my other friend who came along (a confirmed atheist) BUT I do think it can be good to experience anything connected to sprituality and 'the bigger picture' even if you don't agree with the ideas.

horatia · 02/09/2010 17:08

Obviously organised religion doesn't always get it right, but isn't disorganised religion worse in some ways? Cult-like groups that only have themselves to answer to, prey on the vulnerable, have particularly weird views and so on?

Lilymaid · 02/09/2010 17:25

I did the Alpha course some years ago, so not sure whether it has changed much. I hated it because it was so evangelical and because it seemed to be aimed solely at the rich or upwardly mobile (probably because of its SW7 roots). I particularly took a dislike to Nicky Gumbel (and his lovely wife, who was zoomed in on in the videos) and felt it was selling a product that I didn't want.
A couple of people on my course thought it was really good, though ... so that shows how we all differ.
I don't go to church at all now and probably tend more towards Richard Dawkins than Nicky Gumbel - so thanks a lot Nicky!

horatia · 02/09/2010 17:33

I wonder what alternative courses there are to introduce people to Christianity in a less evangelical way? Funny that Alpha is the only one most people have heard of.

tokyonambu · 02/09/2010 18:10

"I wonder what alternative courses there are to introduce people to Christianity in a less evangelical way?"

Tricky, given running mass-market a course to introduce people to Christianity is inherently evangelical. The Quakers are hardly going to do it, are they?

horatia · 02/09/2010 18:31

OK, well how about less fundamentalist? :) Can't see a problem with evangelical if it's just promoting mainstream Christianity.

barleywood · 02/09/2010 18:49

The Emmaus course is an alternative. It doesn't get the publicity that Alpha gets. It is less directive and I think it involves getting alongside people in their everyday lives, as in the bible story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus where he asked the disciples what was going on in their lives before discussing anything else.

I think people need to be able to connect their story with the story of the church and the Christian story. Their story is fundamental to the way they are going to approach things.

CrunchyFrog · 02/09/2010 18:50

The blog posted upthread is brilliant!

horatia · 02/09/2010 20:02

Thanks barleywood :)

Original poster
franklampoon · 02/09/2010 22:19

well I went to the intro and liked it.

COurse starts in 2 weeks

OP posts:
greenbananas · 02/09/2010 22:29

Franklampoon, that's great - I am so pleased for you!!

Original poster
franklampoon · 02/09/2010 22:30

thanks gb, I plan to keep a very open mind , which is hard when you have been brought up with this stuff from birth!

OP posts:
Original poster
franklampoon · 02/09/2010 22:32

oh, they provided a really lovely meal

OP posts:
greenbananas · 02/09/2010 22:51

Good for you, frank!

Yes, it's very hard when there is so much baggage to deal with. I think it's sometimes much harder than when there is no baggage at all...

There's a lot to be said for honesty in these matters. You need to have your serious and genuine questions answered to your own satisfaction. I will be thinking of you Smile Smile

greenbananas · 02/09/2010 22:52

Glad the meal was good - a sure sign that the course is well run!

Finbar · 02/09/2010 22:58

I tried to engage with it - i really did ( as a lapsed Catholic bordering on Atheisim)

But they didn't answer any of my questions properly ( just like the Nuns at school......perhaps it's me) and could not explain how or when the Bible came into being and who decided what bits stayed in it....and then they talked about seeing Angels and I was out the door ( not before hearing them speak in tongues - something I found utterly unconvincing and embarrassing)

So Dawkins got my vote ultimately.

Original poster
franklampoon · 02/09/2010 23:03

ah yes Finbar - the tongues . I am especially curious about that

OP posts:
mamadoc · 03/09/2010 00:41

There are other courses but they are not a franchise like the alpha course.I went on one run by my local church (Christianity Explored I think it was called) a good few years back now.

As others have said it does depend on the leader. Ours was excellent. Hard questions were welcome and I really liked the other people on the course. No Boden in sight more scruffy students. Some of us did become Christians, others not.

Ours had a theme for each evening with a bible passage and a talk then a group discussion. Meal beforehand, coffee during, pub afterwards.

cheapskatemum · 03/09/2010 00:43

Oh Gosh, my church is running an Alpha course at the moment. I went to the first 2 sessions, but then went on holiday for 3 weeks. I wonder if it got really evangelical whilst I was away. Previously, we were all contributing our experiences in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. We ate first (tasty fresh local produce), then watched the DVD (the chairs were very comfy & I was close to nodding off), then discussed the theme for the week. I'll come back after the next session (will be next Tue or Wed) & let you know. We could compare notes - Franklampoon!

mamadoc · 03/09/2010 00:43

No tongues at all...